East Lancashire band Shakeys Brother in running for Grammy (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire band Shakeys Brother in running for Grammy

9:23am Monday 2nd November 2009 in

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AN unsigned band from East Lancashire is tussling with the likes of Pink and Keane for a coveted pop Grammy award.

Shakeys Brother haven’t even got a record deal but they could be about to crash the world’s biggest music bash with their self-titled debut release.

And if the five-piece from Sabden and Burnley secure enough votes from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in the US, they could be heading to Los Angeles for the televised ceremony at the end of January.

They are up against established stars Keane, Lilly Allen and Pink, among others, for the gong.

The outfit, together for just over a year, were entered into the fray by their US promoters Big Noise on the back of their eponymous five-track EP, which is only available online.

And the judges have included them in the best pop vocal album and best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals categories.

For the band - pitched somewhere between Razorlight, The Killers and Arctic Monkeys - the announcement was almost too good to be true.

Bassist Jimmy McNulty, a 21-year-old Burnley student, said: “At first we thought it was a wind-up.

“It wasn’t until we checked the official website that it dawned on us it was actually true.

"To see our name up there alongside modern artists like Keane and Lily Allen, as well as established artists like Seal is amazing.”

Songwriter and guitarist Mark Smith, from Sabden, added: “This is was one of the reasons why we signed up with our promoters in America, to get our names known.

“It is fanastic to be nominated and to even get to this stage.

"We don’t really expect to be there on the night but you never know.”

Mark works as an IT manager, while singer Mark Capstick, 25, also from Sabden, works at Calderstones Hospital in Whalley.

Guitarist and singer Phil Parker, 32, is an engineer and drummer Sam Robinson, 19, is a graphic designer.

Mark Smith said: “We have all had discussions with our bosses about taking time off or maybe having sabbaticals.

“Now it’s down to the 13,000 members of the academy. We think the music is strong enough and we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Just so the quintet don’t get too far ahead of themselves, their winter touring schedule will bring them back down to earth with a bump.

While they have a spot at the Night and Day Cafe in Manchester on November 14, they will also appearances closer to home, at The Attic in Accrington, The Pendle Witch, Sabden, and a Christmas slot at The Grand, Clitheroe.

The band, which rehearses in the cellar of a disused Padiham shop, should know if they are heading Stateside for the Grammys around the turn of the year.